Fireplace grate

ABSTRACT

A fireplace grate includes a plurality of slack chains which conform to combustible materials placed thereon, maintain the combustible materials in a relative forward position on the grate and move the combustible materials together as their sizes diminish during combustion.

[451 Aug. 20, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Shelton 2,161,194 6/1939 126/298 2,274,920 3/1942 Covert....................... 126/298 2,414,033 1/1947 Flaake 126/164 3,278,042 10/1966 Frydenberg....................... 211/60 R [22] Filed:

Primary ExaminerWi11iam F ODea [21] Appl' (L064 Assistant Examiner-Peter D. Ferguson Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Browne, Beveridge, DeGrandi & Kline S n w i mm CD. as m fl e m W e II T ub mr w A an R b T %m w UC d .m m e mm rlr N w mw h J m 7 .m UAW 0 R 6 we 8% %94 F51 n61 m12 m4 7 60 12 "WW MZD "I m r. "a "e "S l m d mm IF 1:1 00 55 1.1.

References Cited thereon, maintain the combustible materials in a rela- UNITED STATES PATENTS tive forward position on the grate and move the combustible materials together as their sizes diminish during combustion.

126/298 D7/207 126/298 8 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 890,669 1,118,519 Weaver.. 2,031,732 2/1936 FIREPLACE GRATE This invention relates to a novel fireplace grate for supporting logs or other combustible materials in a fireplace.

Conventional fireplace grates are rigid bodies which hold paper, kindling, logs or other combustible materials in an elevated position to permit the circulation of combustion-supporting air thereunder. Although there have been some fireplace grates with steep, converging walls which tend to move the combustible materials together as they are consumed, the typical grate requires that the logs first be balanced on each other, lighted and then periodically moved together manually in order to maintain the desired state of combustion.

The present invention proposes to simplify the tasks required to build and maintain a fire in a fireplace. This is achieved by a fireplace grate which includes an elevated forward support means, an elevated rear support means and a plurality of flexible elongated means, preferably chains, which extend between the forward and rear support means. The flexibility of the elongated means renders them conformable to the shape of combustible bodies placed thereon, thereby facilitating the original laying of the combustible bodies and later causing the combustible bodies to move together as their sizes diminish during combustion.

A preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein it will be seen that a plurality of flexible elongated members in the form of parallel chains 2 extend between a rear support means in the form of horizontal bar 4 and a forward support means in the form of a horizontal bar 6. The chains 2 are connected to the bars 4 and 6 by bolts 5. The forward bar 6 is lower than the rear bar 4 so that bodies supported on the chains 2 will assume a forward position in the fireplace. The bars 4 and 6 are steel angles supported by a pair of rigid connector means 7, each of which has an upstanding forward strut 8 and an upstanding rear strut 10. The connector means 7 has an integral horizontal base portion 12 which rest on the fireplace floor and interconnects the struts 8 and 10. Fasteners l4 and 16 connect the struts 8 and to the forward bar 6 and the rear bar 4 respectively.

Relative rotation of the struts 8 and 10 with respect to the bars 4 and 6 is prevented by abutting the uppermost edges of the struts 8 and 10 against the horizontal flanges of the bars 4 and 6. To enhance the ornamental appearance of the device, decorative finials 20 may be used, particularly in instances where no andirons are used with the device.

Due to the catenary shape and flexibility of the chains 2, this improved fireplace grate is easier to load than many prior art devices of this type, and it also promotes movement of the combustible bodies together as their sizes diminish during combustion.

When loading kindling and logs on the grate, the flexible chains will conform to the general shape of the materials, thereby avoiding the necessity of balancing the materials on a rigid grate or andirons. Paper is placed under the kindling and logs, and if desired may be tucked between the chains 2 and the kindling. The paper is lit, and ignition of the kindling and logs is promoted by the exposure of their undersurface to combustion-supporting air. Once started, the fire will continuously diminish the sizes of the combustible bodies supported on the chains 2. However, it is not necessary manually to move the logs together to maintain a flame, since the shape and flexibility of the elongated chains make the device self-feeding, causing the logs to move together as their sizes diminish during combustion.

It will be understood that the invention may take various forms other than the one shown herein since flexible elongated members may be elements other than chains, and they may be supportedby elevated means other than the preferred horizontal bars and connector means. Therefore, it is emphasized that the invention is not limited only to the disclosed and preferred embodiment, but encompasses modifications and variations thereof falling within the terms and spirit of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. A fireplace grate, comprising,

elevated forward support means,

elevated rear support means, and

a plurality of flexible elongated means extending between the forward and rear support means, said elongated means being conformable to the shape of combustible bodies placed thereon so that the shapes of the elongated means change and the combustible bodies are moved together as their sizes diminish during combustion.

2. The fireplace grate of claim 1 wherein the forward support means is a horizontal bar, and the rear support means is a horizontal bar.

3. The fireplace grate of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible means are parallel chains.

4. The fireplace grate of claim 1 having rigid connector means interconnecting the forward support means and the rear support means, said rigid connector means having a horizontal base and spaced apart upstanding struts, said struts being attached to the forward support means and the rear support means.

5. The fireplace grate of claim 1 wherein the rear support means is higher than the forward support means to support the combustible bodies in a position closer to the forward support means than to the rear support means.

6. The fireplace grate of claim 5 wherein the elongated flexible means are parallel chains.

7. The fireplace grate of claim 6 wherein the forward support means is a horizontal bar, and the rear support means is a horizontal bar.

8. The fireplace grate of claim 7 having rigid connector means interconnecting the forward supportmeans and the rear support means, said rigid connector means having a horizontal base and spaced apart upstanding struts, said struts being attached to the forward support means and the rear support means. 

1. A fireplace grate, comprising, elevated forward support means, elevated rear support means, and a plurality of flexible elongated means extending between the forward and rear support means, said elongated means being conformable to the shape of combustible bodies placed thereon so that the shapes of the elongated means change and the combustible bodies are moved together as their sizes diminish during combustion.
 2. The fireplace grate of claim 1 wherein the forward support means is a horizontal bar, and the rear support means is a horizontal bar.
 3. The fireplace grate of claim 1 wherein the elongated flexible means are parallel chains.
 4. The fireplace grate of claim 1 having rigid connector means interconnecting the forward support means and the rear support means, said rigid connector means having a horizontal base and spaced apart upstanding struts, said struts being attached to the forward support means and the rear support means.
 5. The fireplace grate of claim 1 wherein the rear support means is higher than the forward support means to support the combustible bodies in a position closer to the forward support means than to the rear support means.
 6. The fireplace grate of claim 5 wherein the elongated flexible means are parallel chains.
 7. The fireplace grate of claim 6 wherein the forward support means is a horizontal bar, and the rear support means is a horizontal bar.
 8. The fireplace grate of claim 7 having rigid connector means interconnecting the forward support means and the rear support means, said rigid connector means having a horizontal base and spaced apart upstanding struts, said struts being attached to the forward support means and the rear support means. 